Allergy sufferers who love dogs for years have turned to breeds such as the Portugese Water Dog, because they were believed to not shed like most other breeds.

New research published in The American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy says think again. According to the study, investigators checked for a particular canine allergen in 173 homes where one dog was kept. After a month of gathering samples, they found that more than 94 percent of the homes showed detectable levels of the allergen, regardless of breed.

The allergens actually come from the dog's pelt and saliva, and the dog's fur is the carrier, according to a story about the study on WebMD.

Obviously, some dogs shed more than others, and allergy sufferers often can live well with Portugese Water Dogs, poodles and other "hypoallergenic" breeds. The researchers advise people with allergies to find scientifically valid information on the level of allergen shedding of different breeds of dogs" before buying or adopting a dog.

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ABOUT THE WRITERS

TIM DARRAGH has been reporting and editing the news for 30 years, most of it at The Morning Call. For much of that time, he's been doing award-winning investigative and in-depth reporting projects. Tim created the three-year-long Change of Heart project, and wrote a series on the state's fractured food inspection system that led to widespread improvements in food safety. Meantime, that novice jogger you see plodding along the streets around Bethlehem Township? That would be Tim.